As part of its celebration for the 4 December milestone of Australia's population reaching 20 000 000, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) is to offer certificates to babies born around that time.

The offer is for any baby born in Australia from 12:00 midnight 3 December to 12:00 midnight of 5 December, 2003.

This period has been so defined because it contains the time when the Australian population is estimated to reach the 20 000 000. The ABS web site will also display the 20 000 000 number within that period.

The Head of the Census, Demography and Geography Branch at the bureau, Mr Paul Williams, said the certificates were a gesture of goodwill to mark the occasion.

"Our best estimate is that the 20 000 000 will occur on 4 December, but in the spirit of the event we are also covering 5 December as our web site will display the 20 000 000 number on both 4 and 5 December," he said.

"We estimate that about 1400 babies throughout Australia will be eligible for the certificates."

Parents may apply on behalf of their new borns by sending a photocopy of the child's birth certificate showing the child's full name and date of birth, and return address details to: